Steel v Aluminium

samsbike

Hi

I currently have a genesis equilibrium steel which I like for its plain looks. However, its ever so slightly small so I am thinking of changing to a frame size up. However, if I am going to do that I may as well try and get a different bike, and am wondering what the benefit or difference would be to getting say a Cannondale CAAD 9/10.

Is there a significant weight difference etc

thanks

sam

StefanP

What is the bike to be used for?

ugo.santalucia

You've only got to lose... Aluminium alloy is the worst among frame building materials... it's got all the drawbacks of carbon fibre and none of the advantages.

Keep your steel frame

speshsteve

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You've only got to lose... Aluminium alloy is the worst among frame building materials... it's got all the drawbacks of carbon fibre and none of the advantages.

Keep your steel frame

prepare to flamed any moment now!

samsbike

commuting, short trips (1-3hrs max) and a bit of fun really

ugo.santalucia

speshsteve wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You've only got to lose... Aluminium alloy is the worst among frame building materials... it's got all the drawbacks of carbon fibre and none of the advantages.

Keep your steel frame

prepare to flamed any moment now!

Aluminium suffers fatigue like no other frame building material... that's a scientific fact, confirmed by the many and many alu frames that crack after 3-5 years of life. Weight wise the gain is marginal... around 2-300 grams over steel of similar price range.

speshsteve

biggest difference between the bikes your looking at is geometry, the Caad is a full racer. Great bikes but go and sit on one to compare if you can.

I've nothing against steel, alu, ti or CF they are all fit for purpose

My alu is 10 years old and is far from done in
My CF is 3 years old and hasn't melted yet
My steel is very comfy marginally heavier but not so much to be an issue

don't have a ti bike

From the description of use you intend the genesis I suspect is a cracking option.

thegibdog

samsbike wrote:

I currently have a genesis equilibrium steel which I like for its plain looks.

I wouldn't use the word plain to describe an Equilibrium!

samsbike wrote:

However, its ever so slightly small so I am thinking of changing to a frame size up. However, if I am going to do that I may as well try and get a different bike, and am wondering what the benefit or difference would be to getting say a Cannondale CAAD 9/10.

Wouldn't it be easier just to buy a bigger frame if you are happy with it other than the size? £240 IIRC. The Cannondale is a totally different bike, it's a race bike whereas the Genesis is more of an audax bike

samsbike wrote:

Is there a significant weight difference etc

I think the CAAD frame/fork would be about 800-900 grams lighter than the Equilibrium. I bought an Equilibrium for club runs, training rides and doing LEJoG as I wanted something comfortable but fast which took full mudguards. I wasn't really interested in the weight penalty as I'm not going to be riding it competitively, I've got a lightweight alu bike for that (although, thinking about it, it might be affecting my Strava times!).

So really it depends what you're after, whether you want to sacrifice comfort and practicality for speed.

jehannum5

Hi, I have a cannondale CAAD 8 that is six years old. I can attest to its quality. I don't know about the current version made in Taiwan.... But I'm sure the quality is still high. I find that it is a comfortable ride ( I've done 200 km sportives) extremely well handling and quite light. My previous bikes were a carbon trek and a steel Bauer.
Theoretically an aluminium bike will not have the longevity of steel, nor the comfort. My bike seems as comfortable as my old steel one, but I think that the carbon fork definitely plays a part. The back end has sufficient comfort for 200km. Does it have the longevity? Well, it's 6yrs old... Some of the guys in my club have 10 year old ones, my guess is that my steel bike will have finally Joined all the rust spots and crumbled by the time my cannondale shows any cracks.
And by the way.. Have a look at what mountain bikers ride and what the frames of light to medium sized aircraft are made from...

Aluminium will offer you the lightest tightest ride for your money, if you want a steel bike as light and stiff prepare to pay twice or three times as much. If you want carbon, one and a half times. I have nothing against steel, I'm considering a custom steel frame for training and posing on in a couple of years time. I just recognize that all frames have their qualities.

Bantha_Tracks

I only started riding last summer so I am in no way an expert.

I picked up a 2011 Caad10 Ultegra to replace my 2011 Equilibrium 20 a couple of weeks ago.

My Equilibrium was a 54 and the new Cannondale is a 52.

Pros
*Different groupset helping towards the weight as well but its about 1.5kg lighter than the Genesis.
*I found the handling much more responsive and I its made me feel much more confident about moving my weight about the bike.
*The brakes work much better.
*My ride times have been a bit quicker. About 5% on my 40 minute run down to work and 7.5% on the climb back.

cons
*My lower back, and arms have ached after each ride. Its only been a couple of weeks so I'm hoping its down to adapting to the new geo.
*It is a much harsher ride.

samsbike

Bantha_Tracks wrote:

I only started riding last summer so I am in no way an expert.

I picked up a 2011 Caad10 Ultegra to replace my 2011 Equilibrium 20 a couple of weeks ago.

My Equilibrium was a 54 and the new Cannondale is a 52.

Pros
*Different groupset helping towards the weight as well but its about 1.5kg lighter than the Genesis.
*I found the handling much more responsive and I its made me feel much more confident about moving my weight about the bike.
*The brakes work much better.
*My ride times have been a bit quicker. About 5% on my 40 minute run down to work and 7.5% on the climb back.

cons
*My lower back, and arms have ached after each ride. Its only been a couple of weeks so I'm hoping its down to adapting to the new geo.
*It is a much harsher ride.

Thanks for that. I find the ride harsh enough (given that I was road riding on a mtb), so I may just stick wiht the genesis till I figure out what works later in the year.

I really dont know enough to feel any handling differences so am going to wait till I can get hold of a friends boardman and do a proper ride on that

keef66

censored ! I was just about to ask what size frame and how much you want for it!

n1ckster

ugo.santalucia wrote:

speshsteve wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

You've only got to lose... Aluminium alloy is the worst among frame building materials... it's got all the drawbacks of carbon fibre and none of the advantages.

Keep your steel frame

prepare to flamed any moment now!

Aluminium suffers fatigue like no other frame building material... that's a scientific fact, confirmed by the many and many alu frames that crack after 3-5 years of life. Weight wise the gain is marginal... around 2-300 grams over steel of similar price range.

Cripes!!! Have you informed the aerospace industry, lol.